ANNEX - OWSD a…  · Web viewOrganization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) ICTP Campus – Strada Costiera 11 - 34151 Trieste - Italy. Phone: (+39 040) 2240210

OWSD NATIONAL CHAPTER GUIDELINES

Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World - SecretariatICTP CampusStrada Costiera 11 34151 TriesteItalyTel: +39 040 2240210Email: [email protected]: www.owsd.net

July 2019

Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)

ICTP Campus – Strada Costiera 11 - 34151 Trieste - ItalyPhone: (+39 040) 2240210 - E-Mail: [email protected] - Web: www.owsd.net

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GUIDELINES AND SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL CHAPTERS

1. IntroductionThese guidelines have been developed for individuals interested in supporting the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) through the establishment of a National Chapter.The broad goal of the OWSD National Chapter is to promote in-country activities and policies that improve female participation in science and technology.

Background to OWSD

2. What is the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)? OWSD is an international organization committed to promoting women’s access to science and technology, and increasing their participation in decision-making processes for the development of their countries and in the international scientific community.

3. OWSD Objectivesa. Increasing the participation of women in developing countries in scientific and technological research,

teaching and leadership;b. Promoting the recognition of the scientific and technological achievements of women scientists and

technologists in developing countries;c. Promoting collaboration and communication among women scientists and technologists in developing

countries and with the international scientific community as a whole;d. Increasing access of women in developing countries to the socio-economic benefits of science and

technology;e. Promoting participation of women scientists and technologists in the development of their country: andf. Increasing understanding of the role of science and technology in supporting women's development

activities.

4. OWSD MembershipOWSD membership has three categories:

a. Full Members:

Women scientists from developing countries who have completed a master’s degree or higher in the natural sciences (including engineering, technology and innovation) or social sciences and who are committed to the objectives of OWSD.

This is the only category with voting rights.

b. Affiliate Members:

Women scientists from developing countries who have completed a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in the natural sciences (including engineering, technology and innovation) or social sciences and who are committed to the objectives of OWSD.

Affiliate members can advance to become Full Members upon completion of a master’s or doctoral degree (or equivalent) and, consequentially, will receive voting rights.

c. Friends of OWSD:

Women and men from developed and developing countries across all disciplines (including science, social science, arts and humanities) who are committed to promoting the objectives of OWSD.

Friends of OWSD are encouraged to engage with OWSD and its members through support activities (mentoring, fundraising, networking, promoting). They can maintain their online profile on www.owsd.net for visibility and communication purposes.

Individuals who wish to become Members must apply online through the OWSD website and their application will be approved online by OWSD Headquarters.

National Chapter membership shall consist of all registered OWSD members who are Resident and/or National of that country. National Chapters may request special permissions from the OWSD Secretariat ( [email protected]) to

include individuals who are ineligible for OWSD Membership, such as undergraduate students, in their National Chapter Membership.

Establishing an OWSD National Chapter

5. What is an OWSD National Chapter?An OWSD National Chapter is constituted by a group of OWSD members (individuals and/or institutions) that fully support the objectives and activities of OWSD, and aim to enhance and promote female participation in science and technology professions, in scientific leadership, and in the decision-making processes, both at the national and regional levels.

6. Why establish an OWSD National Chapter?a. Provide networking, advocacy and information-sharing between similar institutions and individuals for

promoting increased participation of women in science and technology professions. The National Chapters will work towards strengthening regional scientific and technological activities in the spirit of cooperation among developing countries.

b. Initiate relevant science-based activities that address national concerns working with all levels of society (grassroots, schools and universities).

c. Evolve and develop strategies for mobilizing financial and human resources towards achieving OWSD's objectives.

d. National Chapters should be established by individual or institutional members of OWSD, and in accordance with the stipulations of each country, and working in collaboration with the OWSD Executive Board and the OWSD Headquarters in Trieste, Italy.

7. What is expected from an OWSD National Chapter?OWSD National Chapters are expected to initiate and/or participate in some of the following activities:a. Oversee the strategic implementation of the OWSD programme and objectives at the national level.b. Initiate fundraising activities to fund national-level activities.c. Develop advocacy programmes to increase awareness - among political, NGO, professional and civic circles —

of the value of gender equity and female participation in science and technology.d. Gather and disseminate information on equity issues in science in order to contribute to policy development.e. Initiate research projects in the areas of interest to OWSD with particular relevance to critical development

concerns. OWSD National Chapters are required to:a. Provide evidence of institutional support within the country e.g. office location and resources.b. Submit to the OWSD vice-presidents annual, detailed narrative reports to the OWSD Executive Board and

General Assembly.c. Provide the OWSD Secretariat with regular updated information.d. Nominate a website contact person whose responsibilities will be to: publish an email address and possibly a

phone number on the website; write and publish regional information for the website; create and update regional news of relevance to OWSD; regularly disseminate OWSD information; suggest regional-level content for the global resources database.

8. How does a group obtain the status of an OWSD National Chapter?A group wishing to obtain the status of National Chapter must first:a. Check the OWSD website (www.owsd.net) to confirm that there is no existing OWSD National Chapter (or

pending application) for the proposed country. Only one National Chapter can be recognized per country. b. Complete and submit the National Chapter application form. The application will be considered by the

relevant OWSD vice-president, in order to confirm that the proposed National Chapter meets the criteria (as stated in the application form). The application will then have to be approved by OWSD President first and confirmed by the OWSD Executive Board.

c. Elect, through votes from OWSD members of the National Chapter, an Executive Committee with at least a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer (term of office must not exceed 4 years).

d. Provide a list of at least 20 OWSD National Chapter members; these must all first be registered with the OWSD Secretariat at http://www.owsd.net/user/register. OWSD members of the country will also become members of the National Chapter.

e. Provide a physical address within a recognized institution where the National Chapter will manage the administrative and financial affairs of the National Chapter. The institution must have the resources and infrastructure to host and support the National Chapter. No funds are foreseen by OWSD Headquarters.

f. Ensure that the National Chapter does not hold a bank account in the name of OWSD; the National Chapter can instead have a budget line under the hosting institution.

g. Ensure that the National Chapter does not charge membership fees; the National Chapter can instead ask for contributions from members to support specific events and activities, but these must always be optional.

9. What are OWSD's responsibilities to a National Chapter?Once an OWSD National Chapter has been recognized by the Executive Board (acting on behalf of the General Assembly), The OWSD President will:a. Issue a formal letter of recognition to the OWSD National Chapter.b. Officially inform all OWSD members and all OWSD National Chapters of the location and contacts of the

newly established National Chapter.The OWSD Headquarters will:a. Provide the newly constituted OWSD National Chapter with an information package and communications

materials. Publish information on the activities of various National Chapters on the OWSD website and update List as well as other print and electronic media.

b. Facilitate contacts between the newly established OWSD National Chapter and the relevant TWAS regional office.

c. Facilitate contacts between the newly established OWSD National Chapter and the relevant national or regional science academy.

d. Enlist support of TWAS and IAP in gaining recognition of the National Chapter by respective government ministries.

10. What is the role of OWSD members in a National Chapter?a. If an OWSD National Chapter has not yet been established in the member’s country, she/he can initiate

and/or encourage the formation of a National Chapter. Support from the OWSD Headquarters can be given in this regard. Contact [email protected].

b. If an OWSD National Chapter is established, OWSD members are encouraged to initiate, promote and participate in activities organized by the National Chapter.

APPLICATION FORM - NATIONAL CHAPTERS

ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN SCIENTISTS FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD (OWSD)

EligibilityOWSD individual members are eligible to apply for OWSD National Chapter status. This application form should be completed in all parts (typewritten in English) and returned to the OWSD Secretariat; Please ensure that ALL enclosures (constitution, statutes etc.) are also included.ProposerThe proposer must be an individual member of OWSD and also a member of the proposed National Chapter Executive Committee.National Chapter Executive CommitteeAll positions and membership (i.e. Chair, Treasurer) must be assumed by OWSD members (registered with the OWSD Secretariat, Trieste, Italy). Complete name, surname, email and institutional affiliation (university/research institute), should be indicated.

1. PROPOSERName     

Surname     

Position     

Institutional affiliation      

Email     

Website     

National Chapter address(Must be a registered institution)     

Phone      Fax      Email      Web      

Signature of proposer     

Date     

2. NATIONAL CHAPTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ChairName Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       Vice-ChairName Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       SecretaryName Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       TreasurerName Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       Please fill in details of any other members of the Executive CommitteeOtherName Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       OtherName Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       OtherName Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       

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3. NATIONAL CHAPTER PRIMARY CONTACT PERSON (details to be displayed publicly on OWSD website)Name Surname Email Institutional affiliation                       

4. PROPOSAL a. Rationale - this can include a description of why a national chapter is necessary in your country and what challenges and concerns you expect the National Chapter to address.

b. Venue - where the national chapter will be based, why this is appropriate geographically and what resources will be

available

c. Skills - description of the skills and experience that the proposed executive committee bring to the National Chapter

d. Proposed activities - outline the activities the National Chapter will undertake

e. Dissemination - how will the National Chapter disseminate information about its activities among members?

f. OWSD Collaboration - what support would the NC need from the OWSD Headquarters Please note that OWSD currently has no designated funding for National Chapters and it is expected that each executive committee will fundraise (with support from OWSD).

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5. ENDORSEMENTa. Please endorse the OWSD objectives below:

Increasing the participation of women in developing countries in scientific and technological research, teaching and leadership;

Promoting the recognition of the scientific and technological achievements of women scientists and technologists in developing countries;

Promoting collaboration and communication among women scientists and technologists in developing countries and with the international scientific community as a whole;

Increasing access of women in developing countries to the socio-economic benefits of science and technology; Promoting participation of women scientists and technologists in the development of their country: and, Increasing understanding of the role of science and technology in supporting women's development activities.

As Chair of the       OWSD National Chapter, and on behalf of its executive committee and members, I NAME      

SURNAME      , hereby endorse the OWSD objectives.

Signature      

Date      

b. Please endorse the OWSD Constitution (available on our website).

As Chair of the       OWSD National Chapter, and on behalf of its executive committee and members, I NAME      

SURNAME      , hereby endorse the OWSD constitution.

Signature      

Date      

c. Please confirm that you have taken note of the National Chapter Guidelines (pages 2-4 above), and that the National Chapter will follow these guidelines in practice. In particular:

☐ Members of the National Chapter Executive Committee will each hold up to two terms of four years only, and will be voted in by an election available to all National Chapter members.

☐ The National Chapter will not charge any membership fees (but can accept voluntary contributions from members).

☐ The National Chapter will not hold its own bank account (but can have a budget line with the hosting institution, or with another suitable organization such as a foundation for women in science or a government ministry).

☐ The membership of the National Chapter shall consist of all registered OWSD members who are resident and/or national in that country.

As Chair of the       OWSD National Chapter, and on behalf of its executive committee and members, I NAME      

SURNAME      , hereby confirm that the National Chapter will follow the OWSD National Chapter Guidelines.

Signature      

Date      

6. ATTACHMENTSa. Any legal documents required by your country or institute for example, constitution, statutes, registration

certificate.b. If the National Chapter already has a budget line, please attach the completed bank details form (available on

request from [email protected]). If not, please provide details of where the National Chapter intends to hold funds:     

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